Man pleads not guilty in run-in with skateboarders

A Kalispell man has pleaded not guilty to felony assault with a weapon after allegedly brandishing a handgun at a group of skateboarders.

According to a court document, 18-year-old Adam Vish was driving down Eighth Avenue West when he allegedly swerved toward one of them. The skateboarder then walked up to Vish and flicked his hat off “while informing him that his behavior was unacceptable.”

Vish then allegedly got out of his vehicle, at which point he and the skateboarder “engaged in hitting and slapping” until Vish allegedly went to the trunk of his car, retrieved a silver handgun, and pointed it at all three of them.

A family standing nearby when the incident occurred reported a similar version of events and said they were scared for their safety when Vish allegedly brandished the weapon.

When approached by Kalispell police officers, Vish reportedly consented to a search of his car, which allegedly turned up two handguns. Vish later allegedly confessed to pulling a gun on the skateboarders, agreeing that the confrontation ended when he brandished it, but that he did it in retaliation.

The court document goes on to allege that the gun used in the altercation was later determined to have been stolen from a customer’s vehicle at Don K Chevrolet in Whitefish on June 17, at which point Vish was employed at the auto dealership.

If convicted, Vish faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. He was initially incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center on a $30,000 bond, but posted bond and was released after it was reduced to $10,000.

His next hearing is set for July 31.